Tom and Sonya were comparing their answers on a math problem. It was an order of operations problem, and they each had a different answer. Tom had an answer of 11, and Sonya had an answer of 104. Which student correctly solved the order of operations problem given by the teacher?

(5^2 +6)–(7•4)+8

Hello!

The order of operations is PEMDAS or parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition subtraction.

So 5^2 is 25 + 6 is 31

7*4 is 28

31 - 28 = 3

and 3 + 8 is 11

Tom was right

Hope this helps!

Answer Link

shawnkat shawnkat · Answer 2 · 2018-03-22T23:06:43+01:00

Hey there!

Seeing that it's an order of operations problem, we can use our standard format of computing, PEMDAS. It stands for:

P- Parentheses
E- Exponents
M- Multiplication
D- Division
A- Addition
S- Subtraction

When we compute these problems, we must do it in this order. Therefore, when we do this problem, we start within the parentheses.

(5^2 +6)–(7•4)+8

Inside the parentheses, we have an exponent. Since it's second, we compute it first.

(25 +6)–(7•4)+8

Next, we can simplify the multiplication problem in the other set of parentheses.

(25 +6)–(28)+8

Simplify first parentheses:

31 - 28 + 8

Subtract

3 + 8 =

11

Notice how we subtracted first. That's because when we do PEMDAS, addition, and subtraction, along with multiplication and division, are on the same level- so you can do them in any order. This doesn't go for anything else though unless it's obviously commutative.

Hope this helps!